Jackson special education parents want answers
Guest Column
DANIELLE SIBARIUM
Where have all the good occupational therapists gone? This is one of many questions the parents of the special education children in Jackson are posing to the administration of the Jackson School District.

After a flood of parental complaints were made to everyone from teachers to the superintendent of schools, a series of three meetings were scheduled by the superintendent, the director of special education and the Jackson Board of Education. Parental perception of having three separate meetings instead of one meeting is that it is an attempt by the school district to divide and conquer.

By splitting the school population a lighthearted, diluted version of recent events was presented. (On one) evening, parents from the Rosenauer School thought they were going to a meeting to discuss changes to their child's occupational therapy schedule because their therapist left on maternity leave. Very few parents realized that most students in the school district are not receiving occupational therapy according to their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Many of the parents in attendance were surprised to learn that five of the district's occupational therapists who were contracted in the Jackson school district last year and at the beginning of this school year were no longer contracted in this school district.

The first therapist left in June for a salaried position. She was not replaced. Her schedule was absorbed by the remaining therapists. The next therapist was fired in September with no replacement. The remaining therapist absorbed her schedule as well, feeling the strain.

With an unrelenting schedule and blanket mandates the working environment grew hostile. Three more therapists left while two others reduced their hours and one other therapist ended the month of January with the start of her maternity leave.

With an aggressive plan of action one of the remaining part-time therapists agreed to return to her old schedule, one certified occupational therapist assistant (COTA) already working part-time for the school district agreed to come on full-time and the district retained one new hire, a COTA who is slated to start working on Feb. 11.

When many of these former contractors left they did so with a list of allegations against the current administration running the special education department. There are rumors illegal IEPs took place without therapists present and without their recommendations.

Jackson Superintendent of Schools Tom Gialanella and director of special education Jeanne Pollock claim the therapists left because they were not comfortable using a new transdiciplinary model.

A former Jackson occupational therapist, Beth Graziano, commented, "I have 20 years of experience as an occupational therapist, six in Jackson. I have worked in schools that successfully used the transdisciplinary model. The watered down version that Dr. Pollock wanted to implement was a ruse to squeeze in as many occupational therapy sessions as possible in a short time. Schedules were handed to occupational therapists that grouped children together from different grades without any regard for their individual needs. When we voiced our concern and disgust at this we were told to do what we were told."

With the current shortage of occupational therapists some children have not received occupational therapy services for five weeks and counting, leaving the Jackson school district out of compliance with IEPs. The worst of it is the breakdown in communication. Parents are just learning that their child has not been receiving therapy.

Although late to the game, the parents are not taking this lightly. They are calling for accountability from the superintendent of schools and the director of special education. Together they are working to create a new system of checks and balances. They are now forming their own watchdog group, the Jackson Parent Information network. You can contact the parent group at www.jacksonpin.com.

Parents have been speaking out passionately with emotions flying high; pain, anger, rage. (On one) night parents pleaded with Dr. Pollock to call the former therapists and get them back whatever the cost, tugging at the heartstrings of most in the room. But they won't come back. That point has been made perfectly clear.

On Feb. 12 at 6:30 p.m. there will be a Board of Education committee of the whole meeting at the Jackson School District's administration building. It is vital for parents of the special education sector to attend and to be heard. Speak up and advocate for your child. What you do now may affect them for years to come.

Occupational therapy for a special needs child is as critical to them as math or reading is to a mainstream child. Would parents accept a month of school without math? Would the district's administration ever allow children to miss a month of their core curriculum?

Danielle Sibarium is a resident of Jackson.